U.S. Commercial Gaming Revenue Reaches Record $17.63 Billion in Q2

The U.S. commercial gaming industry reached a significant milestone in the second quarter of 2024, with revenues hitting $17.63 billion, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. This marks the 14th consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, setting a new record for Q2 earnings.

Widespread Growth Across Gaming Sectors:

Revenue growth was widespread, with 24 jurisdictions reporting increases compared to the previous year. The overall revenue from commercial gaming provided a substantial boost to state finances, contributing $3.73 billion in direct state taxes.

Breaking down the sectors, both traditional land-based venues, including brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, and online platforms showed positive growth. Land-based gaming remains dominant, accounting for 71.4% of the total revenue, while online gaming made up 28.6%. However, the growth rate for online gaming slowed from nearly 44% in the same quarter the previous year to 32.5% this year.

The brick-and-mortar casino sector experienced a modest year-over-year increase of 1.8%, generating $12.49 billion, with stronger performance observed in the latter part of the quarter.

The sports betting sector saw a significant uptick, with Americans wagering $31.75 billion, generating $3.16 billion in revenue, up 35.3% from the previous year. This growth was driven by new market launches in states such as Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont.

iGaming also recorded impressive growth, reaching a record $1.98 billion in revenue, a 26.1% increase year-over-year, bolstered by Rhode Island’s market debut in March.

David Forman, AGA Vice President of Research, noted, “While sports betting and iGaming continued to drive overall industry revenue growth in the second quarter, new brick-and-mortar property openings in Illinois, Nebraska, and Virginia also contributed to rising traditional commercial gaming revenue. Across the country, land-based gaming markets are seeing mixed year-over-year comparisons due to slower consumer spending, which may continue to impact the industry through the remainder of 2024.”

Economic Impact and Industry Analysis:

The AGA’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker provides detailed data, offering both state-specific and cumulative insights into the financial performance of the U.S. commercial gaming industry, based on state revenue reports. This analysis covers 37 states and the District of Columbia, all of which had operational commercial gaming markets as of the first quarter of 2024.

The AGA also assesses the economic impact of gaming, regulatory frameworks, and casino locations through its State of Play Map, which covers both commercial and tribal gaming sectors.

As the national trade association representing the U.S. casino industry, the AGA plays a key role in promoting a regulatory and business environment that supports the growth of legal, regulated gaming. With a diverse membership that includes commercial and tribal casino operators, sports betting and iGaming companies, and gaming suppliers, the AGA leads an industry that contributes $329 billion to the economy and supports 1.8 million jobs across the country.